Under 21s In Weekend Action

There is a little touch of the ‘old days’ about tomorrow’s under 21s fixture at Newcastle.

For, not only will the game be played at St James’s Park, but also it will take place on a Saturday afternoon with a 3pm start.

All clubs used to play the majority of their home reserve fixtures at their main stadium on Saturdays when the first team were away at the same time.

But, over the past 25 years or so, things have changed somewhat and midweek fixtures at nearby non-League grounds or training grounds became the norm.

Obviously, the protection of pitches became of paramount importance and older supporters will remember the ‘mud heaps’ that players had to perform on in the fifties, sixties and seventies.

However, the current rules of the Barclays Under 21s league state that three games each season have to be played at a club’s main ground.

With Newcastle not playing their Premier League fixture at Manchester City until Monday evening, officials at the Tyneside club decided to go for a 3pm Saturday afternoon start for their under 21s game with Wolves.

Jamie O’Hara plays for the second string for the second time in a week and Georg Margreitter also makes the trip as does Australian striker Patrick Antelmi who is having a trial with Wolves.

Meanwhile, Wolves have been drawn away to Halesowen Town in the first round of the Birmingham Senior Cup. The tie is scheduled to be completed on or before 26th October, 2013.